Review: Christone “Kingfish” Ingram ‘Hard Road’
By Hal Horowitz
It’s not hyperbole to say that Christone “Kingfish” Ingram’s third studio album is one of the most highly anticipated roots/blues releases of the year.
The appropriately titled ‘Hard Road,’ released Sept. 26, has been teased through preview songs for months, building expectations among Kingfish’s growing legion of fans for new music that inflates but does not abandon his core musical foundation.
The still young guitar/singer/songwriter has, in five busy years, shot to stardom in a genre that seldom sees meteoric rises in artists that came from virtually nothing to headline some of the world’s largest festivals and stages. “I grew up in the Delta, deep in the 662” he sings on the album’s opening “Truth.” “My faith and my guitar was my only way out” he continues as a snapping funk groove clears the way.
The GRAMMY award winning Ingram has gotten help along the way; not just from the esteemed Alligator label who introduced him to their large audience by signing him then releasing and promoting his first two studio and one live sets, but from established stars like Eric Gales, Samantha Fish, Keb’ Mo’ and especially Buddy Guy. They all hailed him as one of the most talented newcomers ready to keep the blues alive and, most importantly, growing into the next generation.
But with ‘Hard Road’ Ingram is already exploring new territory. Significantly, this is the debut release on his own Red Zero label, co-owned with longtime manager Ric Whitney. It’s a way to record without corporate interference and sign others deserving of recognition. The venture is a bold move for any musician, let alone someone of Ingram’s relatively new stature.
In contrast to Ingram’s nearly two hour 2023 live disc which displayed his instrumental virtuosity by expanding his material for the stage, ‘Hard Road’ trims the new compositions into more bite-sized portions. Only three entries break the four-minute mark as he concentrates on arrangements, melody and especially his deep, soulful vocals.
While producer/writer/player Tom Hambridge returns (he worked on all Kingfish’s previous records), two other producers (Nick Goldston and Patrick “Guitarboy” Hayes) are aboard, bringing a slightly slicker approach.
Don’t worry, there is still plenty of guitar. But the pyrotechnics are shorter as he often inserts his string-bending into the songs’ structure. Selections like the mid-tempo R&B of “Hard to Love You” introduce fiery licks between the verses of a boiling soul/blues that captures how skillfully Kingfish balances melody and blistering playing.
In the swamped–up “Voodoo Charm” he slices off wailing, Hendrix-infused licks enhancing the deliberately burning blues rocker, keeping the anchor solo at just over a minute, yet infusing leads into the bones of the track. He then nods to contemporary sounds on “Bad Like Me,” tossing in semi-rap vocals to a strutting, gutsy burner that makes an obvious single.
The sonic mood lightens for the crisp roots pop of “Standing on Business” where Ingram delivers a Keb’ Mo’ worthy vocal on a kiss-off that goes down more smoothly than its lyrics imply (“Baby for the last time, goodbye, good riddance”). And “Clearly” might be his bid for a shot at a Stevie Wonder/George Benson standard;a ballad that displays how emotional Kingfish can be in a piano based refrain with a short, sweet guitar coda.
But that is matched by the gritty “Crosses,” a dark Stevie Ray Vaughan-inflected riff-rocker with some of Ingram’s toughest playing and singing. He uses the titular noun to describe the Black experience with no punches pulled as he growls “Crosses will rattle your bones.” It’s tough, chilling, and an example of the artist at his most passionate.
We’re off to the Delta on the closing, stripped-down “Going Up to Memphis” as the unplugged shuffle, featuring Harrell “Bell” Davenport’s harmonica, takes us back to Ingram’s roots. It’s an appropriate close to ‘Hard Road’;a diverse and determined collection which codifies Kingfish’s already extraordinary talents while pointing the way to expanding his vision towards a future that looks almost blindingly bright.
“Truth”
Order the album HERE
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